Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Christmas Day.

Married this morning Henry Lambley and Sarah Ellen Lines. A poor marriage, both very young, residing with her father John Lines, at Sibford Ferris. The Bride is only 18 and was confined of a bastard child the week after her banns were first published, and Lambley is not the father. The marriage was to have been at 9 o’clock, but they kept me waiting a quarter of an hour.

Services as on Sundays. H. C. 30 present. Offertory 16/6.

Mr and Mrs Davies and their son Lloyd dined with us at 6 o’clock this evening. Harry was in Scotland; at Pitgaveny, Elgin.

Received two brace of pheasants from Mr Wynne our late Candidate. I sent one brace to Mrs Jones, Cintra, Upper Norwood, and gave the other cock to Mrs Davies. We had a hen for ourselves. But today we had a very nice turkey which we bought of Mrs Fred Manning.

Mr Davies sent us a large jar of preserved ginger as a Christmas present.

St Stephen’s Day. Divine Service at 9.15.

Mr Thomas Hitchcox called and asked me whether I would sell him my dog-cart. As I have not used it for more than two years and Webb seems afraid of driving the mare in it. I sold it to him for £4.10, he to give George Harris, my tenant 10/- for his trouble, as it has been standing in his coach house for a long time. I bought the dogcart of Dr Milburn for £16 ten years ago: but it wants doing up, for which the maker asks £10.

The Sibford Brass Band came round. I gave them 2/- on my own account and 10/- from Mr. Davies, towards their uniform clothing fund. The weather is very seasonable; dry and frosty with a little snow on the ground. Hitherto the winter has not been at all severe.

Visited Hannah Keene.

Taught in Boys’ School this morning.

Published Banns of Marriage between Pensioner William Green, Sibford Ferris, and Kate Herbert, of Addington near Croydon.

Innocents’ Day. Divine Service at 9.15.

Visited Misses Dix.

Mr Davies and I walked nearly to Galley Hill and back at night.